Ladybugs Bring Good Luck!

We had a fun coincidence while we were at the zoo on Tuesday. Remember, we were in Jackson working our way closer to Baby Sydney. We were looking at the Rhinos when we saw a lone ladybug. In the China adoption Community, ladybugs mean that your referral is right around the corner. Before you start asking questions and getting excited, you have to realize that we are probably a year away from getting our referral. It is fun to dream, though.

Day at the Zoo

Every 15 months, we have to make the 3 1/2 hour trek to Jackson, Mississippi for a 10 minute fingerprint appointment at the Immigration office. In order to adopt Sydney from China, we have to petition US Immigration to allow us to bring her home. It is not her they are concerned about, though. They want to make sure that we fit to be her parents. Anyway, the approval has to be updated every 18 months, while fingerprints are updated every 15 months. This was our 3rd trip to Jackson since May 2006. There is a great zoo there, so we usually rush through the appointment and head straight to the zoo. Evan loves the animals! You can see a bruise on her cheek in some of the pictures. When she fell off of her bike a week ago, she went straight into the handlebars.

Let's Party!

We had our 2nd annual Halloween party this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. Halloween is our favorite holiday, and we love to have our friends over for a few hours. We have lots of trashy food and games for the children. This year the children made their daddies (or mommies or sisters) into mummies, beat a pinata, and decorated pumpkins. It's a lot of work, but we really enjoy it.

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Evan's friends Kassi and Bailee spent a few hours with us Sunday afternoon. We made a birthday cake for their mom and decorated leftover cupcakes. The girls loved putting sprinkles on the cupcakes, but I think they got more on the table and floor! I'm actually amazed any of the sprinkles came out because they kept dipping it in their icing and plogging up the holes. We put a candle on each one, and they got to blow it out! They had a great time being bakers.

Training Wheels Have Been Thrown Away!

It's official! Evan has learned how to keep her balance and steer without training wheels. She went on a bike ride without them yesterday and did a fantastic job! We are so proud of her!

TAG!

My friend Julie tagged me earlier in the week with a great, truly revealing tag, but I will NEVER get to it. THIS one I can do, though. You are supposed to post the 4th picture from your 4th picture album.

This picture was taken March 12, 2005. I love that smile and rosy cheeks. We had been home from China less than a week. The shoes she is wearing were purchased in Guanzhou and had sqeakers in them. We always knew where she was!! I have loved each age, but I sure am glad she's 4 (almost 5).

TAG! It's your turn!

Day at the Red River Revel

The Revel is a huge week long arts, crafts, and food festival held along the Red River every year. Mike and I used to go mainly for the food because it is trashy fair-type food. We also used to look at every booth and observe the photographs, paintings, stained glass pieces, jewelry, and just about anything you can imagine! The past few years we have spent more time at the huge children's area. They have so many things for children to make and participate in. We even watched a magic show that Evan loved! I just couldn't believe it is the first part of October and we were sweating! We ran into an artist who had all kinds of photographs from China. Of course, we had to buy several.

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